Rio Bravo Pipeline Fact Sheet - Sierra Club...Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor Station Rio Bravo Pipeline Fact Sheet General description Operated by Next Decade to provide gas to its

Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor Station

RioBravoPipelineFactSheet

GeneraldescriptionOperatedbyNextDecadetoprovidegastoitssubsidiaryRioGrandeLNG.RioGrandeLNGwillfurtherprocessthefrackedgas,liquefyit,andexportitintheformofLiquefiedNaturalGas(LNG)viatankerships.Pipelinespecifications(it’sactually2pipelines)

• Two42”pipelinesthatwillbeparalleltoeachother.• 137.3milesinlengthfromAguaDulceHubtoPortofBrownsville.• RightOfWay(ROW):139.7totalmiles,75feetwide.Eachpipelinewillbe25feetapart.• Constructionforsecondpipelineis18monthsaftercompletionoffirstpipeline.• Normaloperatingpressureofeachpipelinewillbeapproximately1,350poundspersquareinch

(psi)withmaximumallowablepressureof1,480psi.• ConstructionwillrequireaROWwidthof125feetwide.

Pipelinesrequiremorethanjustpipe!Accompanyinginfrastructurewillinclude

• 2interconnectboosterstations(bothinKennedyCounty)• 3compressorstations(oneinKleberg,Kennedy,andCameronCounty)• Associatedmeteringstations,6valvesites,andaccessroads.

Compressorstationsarelarge,noisy,andpolluting

• CompressorStation3inCameronCountynearthePortofBrownsville.Itis27acreslargeoffHWY48,nearthechannelcutandacrossfromBahiaGrande.

• Itwillincludesix,electricdrivenrotarynaturalgascompressorunitsof30,000hp,totalingamaximumcapacityof180,000hp.

• Compressorstationsemitvolatileorganiccompoundsandnitrogenoxides,andwillattimesventmethanedirectlyintotheairinaneventknownasablow-downcreatingaloudnoisewhichcanbeheardfrommilesaway.

Oncebuilt,expectmoreIntheRioBravoGeneralProjectDescription,ResourceReport1p.63,theystate“growingdemandintheregion,includingdemandbythe[RioGrandeLNG]Project,islikelytostimulatepipelinesystemenhancements(e.g.,looping,additionalcompression,installationoflargerpipelines)tofurtherincreasethethroughputcapacityoftherelevantconnectingpipelinesorotherpipelinesthatmayprovidecompetingtransportationforshipperscurrentlyusingthepipelinestowhichRBPipelinewillconnect.”Inaddition,onceapipelineisbuilt,otherpipelinesoftenlocatenearthatROW.AdditionalpipelineproposalsincludepipelinesforTexasLNG,AnnovaLNG,andotherpipelinesthatwillcrossthebordertofeedgastoMexico.

Forcing the pipes through private land using eminent domain Landowners who refuse to allow the pipeline through their property for a sum of money could have their land seized by eminent domain. The Rio Bravo Pipeline alone will impact over 150 landowners in Cameron, Willacy, Kennedy, Kleburg, and Jim Wells Counties. If the other pipelines are built along different routes, they could affect many more families. If the companies decide to co-locate the pipelines along the same route, these people could have four pipeline pumping as much as 9 billion cubic feet per day of gas on their property, in some cases only yards away from their homes.

Big natural gas transmission pipelines could mean big risks All natural gas pipelines are subject to explosions and leaks. A 42-inch diameter high-pressure gas line could have a blast radius of over half a mile.1 If the Rio Bravo and Valley Crossing Pipelines parallels Highway 48, that means that the public highway itself and all port businesses would be in the impact zone, as would the sensitive natural areas of San Martin Lake, South Bay and the Bahia Grande. If the proposed LNG export terminals are built, two of them, Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG would be completely within the half-mile impact zone of the Valley Crossing Pipeline. Both of these facilities transport, store, and handle flammable and explosive chemicals such as propane, ethane, and butane, in addition to vast quantities of LNG. A pipeline rupture alongside the plants would increase the risk of subsequent and, potentially even more devastating, explosions. If the Valley Crossing Pipeline is co-located with the double 42-inch diameter Rio Bravo Pipeline, any blast could trigger multiple line ruptures and an almost unthinkable catastrophe.

Ineffective pipeline safety and risky conditions Large transmission pipeline accidents do occur. Pipeline failures can result from a number of reasons including external damage, bad welds, or damage during construction or installation. Corrosion is a major cause of pipeline incidents, and the soils in our area are highly corrosive. Texas LNG’s own report noted that they would have to consult a corrosion engineer because steel, metal and concrete elements in contact with the soil would be subject to degradation. 2 Pipeline failures are a common occurrence with Texas experiencing pipeline failures more than any other state.

1http://www.pipelineawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Evacuation-Distances-for-Natural-Gas.pdf 2 Texas LNG Docket CP 16-116 Resource Report 6

Date: 4/20/2016

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$+

$+

$+

%,

%,

#*#*#*#*

Brownsville

Baffin Bay

Laguna Madre

BahíaGrande

Gulf ofMexico

BrooksCounty

CameronCounty

HidalgoCounty

Jim WellsCounty

KenedyCounty

KlebergCounty

WillacyCounty

Interconnect Booster Station 1 and Metering Site 2MP 19.7

Interconnect Booster Station2 and Metering Site 3MP 25.7

Valley InternationalAirport

UV336

UV433

UV186

UV100

UV107

UV345

UV285

UV206

UV4UV48

£¤281

£¤83

£¤77

10

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

Compressor Station 2MP 66.1

Compressor Station 1MP 00

20

2.4

0 5 102.5 Miles/

1 Milepost#* Meter Site!( Mainline Valve

"Compressor Station or InterconnectBooster Station/Meter Site

$+ Contractor/Pipe Yard%, Temporary Storage Yard

Header SystemPipeline Route

Permanent Access Road

Temporary Access RoadTerminal

Sources: ESRI 2010

FIGURE 1.2-1PROJECT LOCATION MAP

RG LNG TERMINAL ANDRB PIPELINE SYSTEM

PROJECTS

MEXICO

TXLA

MSOverviewOverview

Gulf ofMexico

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Compressor Station 3MP 137.3

UV48

Pipeline Association for Public Awareness

Recommended Minimum Evacuation Distances For

Natural Gas Pipeline Leaks and Ruptures (Not applicable for Butane, Propane, or other Hazardous Liquids)

Pipeline Size (inches) 4 6 8 10 12 16 20 22 24 30 36 42

100 91 137 182 228 274 365 456 502 547 684 821 958

200 129 193 258 322 387 516 645 709 774 967 1161 1354

300 158 237 316 395 474 632 790 869 948 1185 1422 1659

400 182 274 365 456 547 730 912 1003 1094 1368 1642 1915

500 204 306 408 510 612 816 1020 1122 1224 1529 1835 2141600 223 335 447 558 670 894 1117 1229 1340 1675 2011 2346700 241 362 483 603 724 965 1206 1327 1448 1810 2172 2534800 258 387 516 645 774 1032 1290 1419 1548 1935 2322 2709900 274 410 547 684 821 1094 1368 1505 1642 2052 2462 2873

1000 288 433 577 721 865 1154 1442 1586 1730 2163 2596 30281100 302 454 605 756 907 1210 1512 1664 1815 2269 2722 31761200 316 474 632 790 948 1264 1580 1738 1896 2369 2843 3317

Pre

ssur

e (p

sig)

1300 329 493 658 822 986 1315 1644 1809 1973 2466 2959 3453

1400 341 512 682 853 1024 1365 1706 1877 2047 2559 3071 3583

1500 353 530 706 883 1060 1413 1766 1943 2119 2649 3179 3709

1600 365 547 730 912 1094 1459 1824 2006 2189 2736 3283 3830

1700 376 564 752 940 1128 1504 1880 2068 2256 2820 3384 3948

1800 387 580 774 967 1161 1548 1935 2128 2322 2902 3482 4063

1900 398 596 795 994 1193 1590 1988 2186 2385 2981 3578 4174

2000 408 612 816 1020 1224 1631 2039 2243 2447 3059 3671 4283

2100 418 627 836 1045 1254 1672 2090 2299 2508 3134 3761 4388

2200 428 642 856 1069 1283 1711 2139 2353 2567 3208 3850 4492

Table 1 - Evacuation Distance in Feet The applicable leak or rupture condition is that of a sustained trench fire fueled by non-toxic natural gas escaping from two full bore pipe ends. Blast overpressure is not addressed. The distances shown in Table 1 are intended to provide protection from burn injury and correspond to a thermal heat flux exposure level of 450 Btu/hr ft2. This is the accepted limit of heat exposure for unprotected outdoor areas where people congregate; as established by the US Department of Housing & Development Code 24CFR51, Subpart C, Siting of HUD Assisted Projects Near Hazardous Operations Handling Conventional Fuels or Chemicals of an Explosive or Flammable Nature. The formula used to calculate distance was taken from the Gas Research Institute Report GRI-00/0189, A Model for Sizing High Consequence Areas Associated with Natural Gas Pipelines, 2001, prepared by C-FER Technologies. That model does not take into account wind or other factors which may greatly influence specific conditions. Users are advised that the distances shown in Table 1 are considered to be “general information” only and are not intended to replace a site specific risk analysis. The Pipeline Association for Public Awareness makes no warranty with respect to the usefulness of this information and assumes no liability for any and all damages resulting from its use. Anyone using this information does so at their own risk.

Patrick Anderson

Patrick Anderson

Rio BravoPipeline

Hereiswhatyoucando.It’sfastandeasy!

1. SendacommenttotheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC).3hardcopyformshavebeenincludedforyou.StateyourconcernsandobjectionstotheRioBravoPipelineandRioGrandeLNGandmailitin.

2. EncourageotherfamilymembersandfriendstosendincommentstoFERC.

3. Gotohttps://www.ran.org/frackedgasandsignthepetitiontohelpstopbanksfromfinancingtheproject.

Needmoreinformation?

• saveRGVfromLNG.com

• https://www.sierraclub.org/texas/lower-rio-grande-valley

Wanttodomore?

1. Contactyourelectedofficials(city,county,state,federal)andtellthemyourconcernsandoppositiontotheRioBravoPipelineandRioGrandeLNG.ItcouldevenbethesamethingyousenttoFERC!

2. Contactthepress.SeveralpeoplehavebeenonthenewsstatingtheirconcernsandoppositionabouttheValleyCrossingPipelineneartheirhome.Youcanalsowriteletterstotheeditorinthenewspaper.

3. Stayuptodate,getinvolved,andjoinotherindividualstryingtostoppipelinesandLNG.

• JoinSaveRGVFromLNGonFacebook

• JointheLowerRioGrandeValleySierraClubonFacebookandTwitter.

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

TEXAS LNG PROJECT (DOCKET NO. CP16-116-000);

ANNOVA LNG PROJECT (DOCKET NO. PF15-15-000);

RIO GRANDE LNG PROJECT (DOCKET NO. CP16-454-000);

RIO BRAVO PIPELINE (DOCKET NO. CP16-455-000)

Comments can be: (1) left with a FERC representative; (2) mailed to the addresses below or (3) electronically filed1.

COMMENTS: (PLEASE PRINT) [continue on back of page if necessary]

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Commenter’s Name and Mailing Address (Please Print)

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__________________________ 1The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments. See 18 Code of Federal Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s Internet website at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to “Documents and Filings” and “eFiling.” eFiling is a file attachment process and requires that you prepare your submission in the same manner as you would if filing on paper, and save it to a file on your hard drive. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on “Sign up” or “eRegister.” You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making. This filing is considered a “Comment on Filing.” All comments submitted under eFiling are placed in the public record for the specified docket or project number(s).

Please send copies referenced to the address below:

For Official Filing:

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE, Room 1A Washington, DC 20426

http://www.ferc.gov/








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